PRESIDENT  KEMP  P.  BATTLE 


COMMITTEE  OF  VISITATION, 

Hon.  W.  L.  STEELE,  Ch  AIRMAN, 

TO  THE 

BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 

OF  THE 

University  of  North  Carolina, 

JANUARY  20th,  (887. 


\ 


t 


REPORT  OF  PRESIDENT  KEMP  P.  BATTLE. 


University  of  North  Carolina, 

January  20th,  1887. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Board  of 

Trustees  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  : 

I have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  as  to  the 
condition  of  the  University,  and  also  reports  made  by  the 
members  of  the  Faculty  as  to  their  respective  departments. 

NUMBERS. 

The  discontinuance  of  instruction  in  primary  Latin  and 
Greek  and  the  disastrous  failure  of  crops  in  the  State  have 
prevented  that  increase  in  the  numbers  of  the  University 
which  was  anticipated.  In  the  year  ending  August  15th, 
1886,  the  number  reached  204,  of  whom  thirteen  were  post- 
graduates, seventeen  members  of  the  Law  school. 

The  number  during  the  present  collegiate  year  will  be 
about  the  same  as  last  year.  Inasmuch  as  many  of  the 
counties  in  the  State  from  which  we  chiefly  draw  our  pat- 
ronage, have  experienced  crop  failures  three  years  in  succes- 
sion the  fact  that  we  have  not  had  a considerable  diminu- 
tion of  numbers  is  a gratifying  proof  of  the  confidence  of 
the  people. 

The  students  as  a body  have  shown  a commendable  de- 
gree of  study  and  attention  to  duty.  Their  conduct  has  as 
a rule  been  remarkably  good.  As  great  freedom  from  vices 
and  rowdyism  has  existed  as  can  be  found  in  any  institu- 
tion in  the  land. 

This  statement  is  confidently  made,  and  investigation 
challenged,  notwithstanding  the  deplorable  killing  of  Jacob 


4 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


A.  Freeze,  a student  from  Rowan  county  in  a row  with 
some  negroes  three  of  whom,  Pat  Brewer,  James  Harris  and 
Ed.  Kirby  are  now  in  jail  awaiting  trial.  I have  already  re- 
ported the  facts  of  this  case  to  the  Executive  Committee 
and  as  the  trial  of  the  slayers  will  shortly  be  held,  I will  not  re- 
peat them.  The  body  of  students,  although  greatly  excited  at 
the  death  of  their  comrade,  behaved  as  good  citizens  should, 
lending  their  aid  when  called  on,  making  no  threats  of  lynch 
law,  leaving  the  matter  to  judicial  investigation.  Notwith- 
standing the  terrible  tragedy,  these  circumstances  show  con- 
clusively their  general  good  conduct,  and  their  obedience  to 
authority. 

FACULTY. 

Two  new  professors  have  entered  on  their  duties  since 
the  last  meeting  of  the  Board,  viz.:  Wm.  B.  Phillips,  Ph. 
D.,  Professor  of  Agricultural  Chemistry  and  Mining  and 
Eben  Alexander,  Ph.  D.,  Professor  of  Greek.  Both  of  them 
give  eminent  satisfaction.  We  have  now  a corps  of  profes- 
sors, learned,  thorough  workers,  successful  teachers,  and 
commanding  the  respect  and  confidence  of  their  pupils. 
The  Faculty,  including  the  President,  who  teaches  five  hours 
a week,  now  number  fifteen,  giving  the  University  one  of 
The  largest  working  forces  of  any  institution  in  the  South. 

With  so  large  a Faculty,  the  University  offers  the  fullest 
undergraduate  instruction  in  all  branches  of  Literature, 
Philosophy  and  Science,  opening  up  a wide  choice  of  mental 
training  to  suit  the  inclination  and  natural  bent  of  the 
minds  committed  to  its  charge.  Continuous  instruction  is 
offered  for  four  years  in  Latin,  Greek,  English,  Modern 
Languages  and  Mathematics.  In  the  sciences  enlarged 
facilities  have  been  provided  for  work  in  the  laboratory  and 
field  ; and  in  these,  as  also  in  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy, 
instruction  extends  over  a longer  peried  than  formerly. 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


5 


Special  opportunities  for  study  are  offered  in  the  branches 
pertaining  to  Agriculture  and  the  Mechanic  Arts,  in  Engi- 
neering and  in  Normal  Instruction. 

Post-graduate  courses  have  been  mapped  out  in  all  the 
departments,  leading  to  the  advanced  degrees  of  Master  of 
Arts,  Master  of  Philosophy,  Master  of  Science  or  Doctor  of 
Philosophy.  The  Law  school  has  also  been  put  upon  a 
surer  foundation.  The  post-graduate  courses  are  open  to 
students  from  any  college,  without  tuition  charges. 

Additions  have  been  made  to  the  Chemical,  Physical, 
Mineralogical,  Zoological  and  Botanical  Laboratories,  one 
or  more  rooms  being  set  aside  for  each  of  the  branches 
mentioned.  The  furnishings  of  these  laboratories  are  of  the 
best,  and  superior  advantages  are  offered  for  careful  work. 
The  museums  and  collections  in  the  different  departments 
of  science  are  receiving  constant  additions  and  prove  valu- 
able aids  in  illustrating  the  instruction. 

RECENT  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  new  laboratory  70x30  feet  is  well  arranged  for  all  the 
needs  of  General,  Industrial  and  Agricultural  Chemistry,, 
including  rooms  for  qualitative  and  quantitative  analysis  by 
students,  and  private  laboratory  room  for  the  professors. 
The  specimens  selected  by  Dr.  Phillips  from  the  mines  in 
Saxony,  added  to  the  large  collection  of  minerals  from 
Europe  and  the  United  States,  give  best  facilities  for  study 
of  Mineralogy. 

A reading-room  supplied  with  the  leading  periodicals  has 
been  thrown  open  to  the  free  use  of  the  students,  and  the 
library  building  so  arranged  with  alcoves  as  to  accommo- 
date all  of  the  Society  and  other  Libraries,  making  a 
total  of  more  than  20,000  volumes.  The  combination  of 
these  libraries  has  been  completed  and  the  step  greatly  en- 
hances the  value  of  the  libraries  and  promotes  the  conveni- 
ence of  and  habit  of  reading  among  the  students. 

The  Mitchell  Scientific  Society  gives  full  opportunity  for 


6 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


original  research  and  publication  of  results.  The  Shake- 
speare Club  composed  of  Faculty  and  students  is  stimulat- 
ing the  study  of  the  great  dramatist  and  of  English  Litera- 
ture generally. 

I confidently  affirm  that  the  University  is  now  ready  to 
take  its  proper  place  in  the  front  rank  of  educational  insti- 
tutions. It  only  needs  the  intelligent  and  zealous  co-opera- 
tion of  its  friends,  to  make  this  fact  known  and  appreciated 
throughout  the  land. 

The  University  has  been  in  operation  eleven  years  since 
Its  re-opening  in  1875.  In  that  time  it  has,  in  spite  of  ex- 
traordinary financial  depression  and  disasters,  by  the  en- 
lightened liberality  of  the  General  Assembly,  obtained  an 
attendance  of  over  200  students,  a number  superior  to  any 
reached  from  its  beginning  up  to  1851.  It  has  been  the 
means  of  educating  over  five  hundred  poor  boys.  It  has 
furnished  to  the  State  hundreds  of  teachers.  It  was  the 
parent  of  summer  Normal  schools,  which  have  done  so 
much  for  our  State,  and  have  been  copied  by  all  the  South- 
ern States.  Through  these  Normal  schools  it  has  give  im- 
pulse to,  and  led  to  the  inauguration  of  Graded  schools  in 
so  many  of  our  towns.  It  has  stopped  the  going  out  of  our 
boys  to  the  institutions  beyond  our  limits,  and  the  conse- 
quent drain  of  our  money.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say 
that  it  has  saved  the  State  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars, besides  preventing  that  loss  of  State  pride  which  must 
result  from  the  spectacle  of  an  inferior  public  institution. 

Its  position  has  been  attained  without  diminishing  the 
numbers  of  the  colleges  of  the  State.  They  are  all  as  pros- 
perous, in  several  instances  more  so,  than  when  its  doors 
were  closed. 


STATE  APPROPRIATION. 

The  $7,500  from  the  Land  Scrip  Fund  received  by  the 
University  is  interest  which  the  State  agreed  to  pay,  rather 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


7 


than  refund  the  principal  to  the  United  States  Treas- 
ury. Besides  this,  the  State  gives  the  University  $20,000 
annually.  If  we  estimate  what  is  paid  by  licenses,  &c., 
this  is  about  five  or  six  cents  on  the  $1,000  value  of 
property. 


IS  THIS  AMOUNT  EXCESSIVE? 

That  it  is  not,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  from  all  the  re- 
sources, the  total  income  of  the  University  is  barely  sufficient 
to  support  the  institution  with  its  present  force.  Every  de- 
partment we  have  should  be  retained,  and  pushed  even 
further.  Large  sums  are  needed  for  new  books  and  instru- 
ments. Until  the  State  becomes  more  prosperous,  receipts 
from  tuition  fees  cannot  be  increased. 

Not  only  the  great  nations  like  England,  Germany,  France, 
Russia,  find  it  necessary  to  preserve  and  increase  their  great- 
ness by  supporting  most  liberally  national  Universities,  but 
the  States  of  our  Union  eagerly  follow  their  example.  The 
following  list  shows  what  they  are  doing  for  higher  educa- 
tion. 


Virginia : 

To  University  of  Virginia $40,000 

Military  Institute 30,000 

Normal  and  Collegiate  Inst,  (col.)  . . . 20,000 

State  Female  Normal  School 10,000 

Interest  on  land  grant : 

To  Blacksburg 20,658 

Hampton 10,329 

$130,987 

South  Carolina : 

To  South  Carolina  College $23,500 

Citadel 20,400 

Claflin 5,750 

Land  Scrip  Fund 11,508 


$ 61,158 


3 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


A labama : 

To  University  of  Alabama $24,060 

Agricultural  College 20,000. 

Normal 25,500 

$ 60,580 

Mississippi : 

To  State  University $32,500 

Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College....  30,000 

Industrial  College  for  Girls 30,000 

Alcorn  Ag’l  and  Mech.  College  (col.),  11,000 

Tongaloo  University  (colored) 3,000 

$106,506 

Georgia  : 

To  State  University $ 8,000 

Land  Scrip  Interest 19,000 

Other  funds __ 3,000 

To  Atlanta  University 8,000 

$ 38,000 

Louisiana: 

To  University,  &c $32,035 

Income  on  Land  Grant  Fund 45,234 

■ $ 77.279 

Missouri : 

To  University $62,816 

School  of  Mines 15,000 

Normal  Colleges 60,000 

Lincoln  Institute 16,000 

$153,810 

Improvements 118,000 

Tennessee  : 

To  University $25,500 

State  Normal  College 10,000  / 


$ 35.500 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


9’ 


Maryland  : 

To  various  Institutions $22,890 

State  Normal  School 10,500 

Academic  donations 27,600 

$ 60,990 


In  this  State  is  Johns  Hopkins  University,  with  its  very 


large  income. 

Ohio  : 

To  State  University $53,887 

Normal  Institute 32,270 

$ 86,157 

California  : 

To  University $72,262 

Interest  on  State,  &c.,  bonds 82,316 

$154,578 

Normal  Colleges 128,700 


$283,278 

Delaware : 


Normal  Colleges $ 3,000 

Agricultural  Colleges 3,000 

Income  on  Land  Scrip 4,800 

Teachers’  Institute 3,000 

$ 13,800 

Iowa  : 

State  University $52,000 

Agricultural  College 1 2,500 

Land  grant . 41,000 

Normal  College 25,000 

^$130,509 

Illinois  : 

University  $43,000 

Southern  Illinois  University : 13,200 

Normal  Schools  and  University 31,000 


$ 87,200 


IO 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


West  Virginia: 

To  University 

Normal  School 

Land  Grant  Fund 

Colorado  : 

University  and  Colleges 

Rhode  Island : 

Normal  School 


17.000 

12.000 
6,000 

$ 35>0°o 

$ 60,000 


$ 11,000 


This  State  has  Brown  University,  with  a very  large  in- 
come. 


Florida: 

State  College $7,500 

Interest  on  Fund 10,800 

Seminaries 6,700 

$ 25,000 

Wisconsin : 

University $59>549 

Income  of  University  Fund 15,79 7 

Normal  Schools 100,778 

$176,124 

Maine  : 

Agricultural  College $ 8,350 

Normal  College 19,000 

$ 27,350 

Connecticut : 

Storrs  Agricultural  School $ 7,500 

Land  Grant  Fund 6,386 

$ 13,886 


Yale  University  has  an  income  of  several  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars. 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


I 


Massachusetts  : 

To  Worcester  Institute  last  year $ 50,000 

Harvard  University  has  an  income  approaching  half  a 
million. 


Oregon  : 

State  University $ 6,000 

Agricultural  College 2,500 

Interest  on  Land  Grant 70,000 

$ 78,500 

Kentucky  : 


Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College. . . .$18,420 


Land  Grant 9,990 

Colored  Institutions 10,000 

, $ 38,320 

New  York: 

To  nine  Normal  Colleges $162,000 

Instructing  Teachers.  30,000 

$192,000 


Six  thousand  dollars  for  books  and  apparatus  to  such 
schools  and  colleges  not  exceeding  150  as  may  raise  same 
amount. 

New  York  has  Cornell  University,  Columbia  College, 
Union  College,  and  other  institutions,  with  aggregate  in- 
comes of  over  a million  dollars. 


Michigan  : 

University $57, 500 

“ from  Land  Grant 38,536 

Agricultural  College 17,000 


from  Land  Grant  . . 29,939 
4,287 


Normal  Schools 


$147,262 


12 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


North  Carolina : 

To  University — appropriation $ 20,000 

Interest  on  Land  Grant 7,500 

Normal  Schools 8,000 

$35,500* 


Shall  North  Carolina  ignominiously  lower  her  standard 
and  have  her  sons  pensioners  on  the  bounty  of  Virginia  and 
South  Carolina,  Connecticut  or  New  Jersey,  Massachusetts 
or  Michigan  ? If  so  she  condemns  herself  and  her  sons  to* 
permanent  inferiority. 

BENEFITS  TO  POOR  YOUNG  MEN. 

The  University  is  especially  needed  for  the  aspiring  poor 
men  of  the  State.  The  rich  can  send  their  sons  beyond  our 
limits.  They  are  independent  of  the  bounty  of  the  State- 
But  our  poor  young  men  need  an  institution  near  at  hand, 
among  their  own  people.  No  one  knows  as  well  as  I the 
inestimable  benefits  we  have  already  conferred  on  such. 
We  have  now  many  worthy  men,  at  least  one  hundred,  with 
hands  brown  with  toil,  some  cooking  for  themselves,  others- 
hiring  their  own  cooks,  some  on  county  appointments  free 
of  tuition,  others  going  into  debt  for  it,  with  thread-bare 
clothes,  in  the  coldest  weather  without  great-coats,  hovering 
over  scanty  fires,  but  with  the  flames  of  noble  resolutions 
burning  in  their  breasts.  There  is  one,  whose  left  arm  was- 
withered  in  infancy,  who  left  his  mother’s  roof  at  twenty 
years  of  age,  as  a farm  laborer  at  $6  per  month,  then  taught 
an  humble  sehool,  then  made  his  way  to  the  University, 
whose  doors  have  never  been  closed  to  the  needy.  Amid 
great  privations  he  spent  a few  months  in  our  classes. 
When  the  spring  sun  rose  he  started  out  on  the  thankless 
but  most  honorable  business  of  a book-agent.  He  returned 
in  the  Fall  with  his  hard-earned  gains.  He  has  intelligence.. 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


13 


H e has  pluck.  He  is  still  at  his  studies,  supporting  himself 
largely  by  his  vacation  work.  He  authorizes  me  to  give  his 
name,  L.  W.  Lynch,  of  Rutherford. 

I give  another  case  of  a young  man  of  Burke  county, 
whose  graduating  speech  at  the  University  was  received 
with  roars  of  applause,  who  was  then  for  two  years  principal 
of  the  High  school  of  Marion.  Bishop  Lyman,  having  seen 
some  of  his  drawings  and  being  struck  with  their  merit,  ad- 
vised him  to  take  a course  in  the  New  York  Academy  of 
Design,  and  on  his  consenting  procured  admission  for  him. 
He  won  rapid  promotion  in  that  school  and  has  been  chosen 
on  recommendation  of  his  principal  teacher,  instructor  in 
drawing  in  a city  school.  He  has  just  sent  me  an  account 
of  his  successful  struggles  for  an  education  written  at  my 
request  and  as  it  throws  light  on  the  manners  of  our  stu- 
dents, and  is  so  creditable  to  him  I give  it  entire  : 

MR.  RANDALL’S  EXPERIENCE  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

The  middle  of  November,  1879,  f°und  me  an  awkward 
farm  boy  of  nineteen,  I had  worked  on  the  farm  since  I was 
large  enough  to  use  a hoe  and  I plowed  a .summer  or  two 
before  I could  lift  the  plow  around  at  the  end  of  the  fur- 
row, dragging  it  around.  Till  I was  seventeen,  I had  only 
attended  free  schools  a few  months  during  the  winter,  some- 
times walking  as  far  as  three  and  a half  miles  through  rain 
and  snow.  I was  at  last  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to  at- 
tend a good  private  school  (at  Table  Rock)  pretty  regularly 
for  nearly  two  years,  working  during  the  making  of  the 
crops.  Concluding  that  I was  getting  older  faster  than  I 
was  getting  an  education,  I determined  to  go  to  the  Uni- 
versity and  see  what  I could  do.  I intended,  if  I could  do 
no  better,  to  get  work  in  the  village  during  the  day,  study 
at  night  and  recite  to  any  of  the  Professors  who  might  be 
willing  to  help  me  in  my  studies.  Having  a cousin  who  was 
of  the  same  mind  as  myself,  except  he  had  chosen  to  go  to 


14  REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Trinity,  we  got  some  bread  and  meat  for  lunches,  bundled 
up  some  clothes,  and  set  out  to  walk,  late  in  the  afternoon 
of  Tuesday.  We  walked  about  ten  miles,  and  slept  on 
some  planks  in  an  unfinished  school-house  by  the  road-side. 
We  could  not  afford  to  pay  lodgings,  as  my  cousin  had  only 
three  or  four  dollars,  and  I had  about  three.  Next  morning 
we  passed  through  Lenoir,  Caldwell  county,  and  walked 
about  thirty-five  miles.  At  dark  we  were  so  tired  and  feel- 
ing in  low  spirits  we  tried  to  get  a bed  at  some  of  the 
houses  on  the  road  and  were  turned  off  again  and  again,  till 
at  last  about  nine  o’clock  we  were  taken  in  and  slept  in  a 
bed  that  night.  The  next  day  we  passed  Wilkesboro,  and 
went  into  Yadkin  county.  We  found  that  the  train  which 
we  intended  taking  at  Winston,  left  during  the  afternoon 
for  Greensboro,  and  if  we  did  not  reach  Winston  Friday  in 
time  for  it  we  could  not  reach  our  destination  Saturday. 
This  meant  that  we  must  walk  most  of  Thursday  night. 
About  dark  I gave  out  from  walking  and  carrying  a heavy 
valise.  We  started  a fire  in  the  woods  by  the  road  2nd  lay 
down  in  a pile  of  shavings  where  shingles  had  been  made 
till  about  midnight.  By  that  time  my  legs  had  quit  aching 
and  I felt  well  enough  to  go  on.  We  walked  on  and  crossed 
the  Yadkin  river  about  day-light.  I think  that  it  was  about 
two  or  three  o’clock  when  we  reached  the  depot  at  Winston 
tired  and  foot-sore.  We  parted  in  Greensboro  that  night, 
my  cousin  went  on  the  train  for  Trinity  and  I was  left  alone. 
He  staid  at  Trinity  about  a month  and  returned  home.  I 
found  a grove  not  far  from  the  depot,  scraped  up  some  leaves 
and  lay  down  with  my  valise  for  a pillow  at  the  foot  of  a 
large  oak.  I did  not  sleep  soundly,  I felt  the  chill  and 
heard  the  shrieks  of  the  Novemberwind  even  in  my  dreams. 

Next  morning  I walked  out  of  the  town  and  found  a little 
stream  where  I could  wash  my  face,  I was  ashamed  to  be 
seen  washing  at  any  of  the  town  pumps.  My  provisions 
being  out,  I bought  two  ham  sandwiches  for  ten  cents  and 
had  a feast  preparatory  to  entering  the  University.  I 


REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 


15 


bought  a ticket  to  Hillsboro  and  walked  over  to  Chapel 
Hill,  getting  there  about  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon.  I 
had  heard  such  great  tales  about  students  at  Chapel  Hill 
that  I expected  to  be  tarred  and  feathered  as  soon  as  I made 
my  appearance.  I walked  in  through  the  gate  and  up  the 
walk  towards  the  New  East,  with  my  heart  in  my  mouth.  I 
saw  a little  negro  picking  up  hickory  nuts  and  called  to  him 
to  know  where  McCall’s  room  was  (McC.  being  an  old 
school  mate  I wanted  to  find  him  as  soon  as  possible  for 
protection).  The  little  negro  did'nt  stop  to  answer  me  but 
ran  away.  I was  surprised  at  not  seeing  a single  student ; I 
afterwards  found  that  they  were  all  on  the  play  ground.  I 
came  across  a college  servant  and  he  directed  me  to  the 
room  and  McCall  came  in  just  at  that  moment. 

I had  just  thirty  cents  in  my  pocket  and  this  was  all  I 
had  in  the  world  and  I did’nt  know  where  the  next  was  to 
come  from.  I was  dressed  in  homespun  jeans,  a hickory 
shirt,  no  collar  and  an  old  flopped  hat  and  home-made  shoes. 
That  night  it  got  noised  abroad  that  there  was  a new  stu- 
dent in  college  and  before  I knew  what  was  up  the  room 
was  full  and  the  passage  outside.  They  yelled  and  sang 
“’Freshman  don't  get  weary  you're  going  to  get  a blacking 
by  and  bye.”  They  teased  me  and  tried  to  get  me  to 
dance.  All  was  in  a good  humor  and  I enjoyed  it  as  much 
as  any  one.  That  was  the  only  Freshing  I got  except  be- 
ing whistled  at  a few  times  in  passing  groups  of  students. 
One  boy  in  the  crowd  remarked,  “ Freshman,  why  don’t  you 
wear  a collar?”  The  others  hissed  and  shamed  him. 

Though  I dressed  very  badly  the  first  year,  I never  heard 
an  allusion  to  it  except  on  one  occasion.  A party  of  us 
were  coming  from  Stroud’s  pond,  after  having  taken  a bath, 
and  a pupil  noted  for  his  length  of  tongue  and  lack  of  brains, 
pointed  to  a scare-crow  and  said,  “There  is  Randall’s  hat.” 
He  wore  ragged  flannel  under  his  good  clothes,  and  so 

I turned  the  laugh  on  him  by  saying,  “And  there  is ’s 

shirt.”  A student  at  Chapel  Hill  is  not  obliged  to  dress 


3 0112  105874959 


1 6 REPORT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

above  his  means,  and  his  fellow-students  are  so  courteous 
and  kind-hearted  that  he  is  never  made  to  feel  hurt  or 
slighted  on  that  account.  McCall  took  me  in  the  room 
with  him,  encouraged  me,  and  loaned  me  some  money. 
Monday,  President  Battle  made  me  feel  quite  at  home,  and 
I felt  as  if  he  had  been  waiting  for  the  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing me  welcome.  I knew  the  moment  I saw  his  face  that  I 
would  get  sympathy  and  encouragement.  I clubbed  with 
three  or  four  others  that  were  living  very  cheaply,  and  from 
November  till  June  we  averaged  about  $5.00  per  month  for 
our  board — sometimes  a good  deal  less. 

An  uncle  loaned  me  some  money,  and  I got  through  till 
J une,  bought  clothes,  and  my  ticket  to  Morganton.  I worked 
on  the  farm  till  the  latter  part  of  August — then  walked  to 
Winston  again,  took  the  train,  rode  to  Hillsboro,  and  walked 
over  to  the  Hill. 

I got  a county  appointment,  borrowed  money  of  the  Deems 
fund,  managed  a club,  and  at  the  beginning  of  my  Soph  year 
was  elected  Librarian  of  the  Dialectic  Society,  it  beingthe  first 
year  that  the  Librarian  got  a salary.  When  I was  elected 
to  this  place,  the  opposite  party  was  in  power,  and  a man 
who  belonged  to  their  party  wanted  it.  Members  of  his 
own  party  voted  for  me  simply  because  they  knew  I needed 
the  money  and  he  didn’t.  The  other  man  was  a rising  Se- 
nior, and  I know  more  popular  at  the  time  than  I was.  I 
held  the  place  three  years,  till  I graduated,  through  all  the 
changes  of  power  and  party.  I know  it  to  be  a fact  that 
the  party  leaders,  and  those  elected  to  the  offices  were  as  a 
rule  the  boys  of  limited  means,  county  students,  &c.  I be- 
lieve that  at  least  half  of  the  students  come  at  a great  sac- 
rifice, and  one-fourth,  I should  judge,  pay  their  own  way, 
with  the  help  given  by  the  county  appointments  and  the 
aid  from  the  Deems  fund.  I know  from  experience  that 
any  young  man  of  sound  mind  and  body,  and  energy  and 
determination  can  get  through  the  University.  The  Faculty 
will  not  let  a young  man  of  the  proper  grit  and  industry  be 
•compelled  to  give  up  for  want  of  means. 


